Although many studies on product portfolio management (PPM) and ecodesign exist, there are few investigations that analyze these areas in an integrated way. They are normally conceptually separated, with very few theoretical and empirical interactions evident in the literature. This article proposes a theoretical framework that integrates ecodesign practices, methods, and tools with portfolio management during the product planning stage. For the development of this framework, a systematic analysis and literature review of both PPM and ecodesign were conducted. The framework subsequently developed was evaluated through a pilot test within two companies that develop products derived from Brazilian biodiversity. In terms of results, it presents a set of practices that are associated with the following dimensions: Guides, Methods, and Tools; Organization; and Strategy. After presenting the evaluation of the framework by the companies, practices are proposed which can be useful for the integration of ecodesign into PPM, such as adoption of the Project Management Office (PMO) and the use of social media.

Trata o presente artigo de uma proposta de metodologia de pesquisa que busca discutir os referenciais teóricos da multifuncionalidade da agricultura a fim de analisar notadamente um sistema agroalimentar fundado em princípios e métodos da Agricultura Natural. Este sistema se organiza em torno de uma agroindústria integrando produtores locais para oferecer principalmente frangos e ovos. A Agricultura Natural é um modelo produtivo preconizado por Mokiti Okada (Japão, 1882(Japão, -1955, o qual enfatiza a necessidade de um perfeito equilíbrio entre as atividades humanas e as forças da natureza, para se alcançar bons resultados na produção, privilegiando a segurança dos alimentos, práticas conservacionistas da natureza, a saúde, e o bem-estar socioeconômico de produtores e consumidores. A partir da década de 1990, podemos perceber um incremento das discussões sobre a multifuncionalidade da agricultura devido aos inúmeros problemas sociais e ambientais advindos do modelo agrícola produtivista. Neste mesmo período intensificaram-se os problemas concernentes à segurança alimentar, com os casos da Encefalopatia Espongiforme Bovina (doença da vaca louca), alimentos contaminados com dioxinas e com resíduos de agrotóxicos, emergência de doença zoonóticas como a Influenza Aviária, etc. A ideia então é de discutir em que medida a Agricultura Natural, representando uma inovação tecnológica na produção de alimentos no Brasil e no mundo, oferece bases pertinentes na busca de um modelo agrícola sustentável, em respeito à humanidade e sua diversidade sociocultural e ao meio ambiente. Finalmente, analisamos a pertinência de posicionar o processo produtivo da avicultura alternativa com os referenciais teóricos do Sistema Agroalimentar Localizado (SIAL).Palavras-chave: avicultura alternativa, avicultura orgânica, multifuncionalidade da agricultura, desenvolvimento territorial, sustentabilidade, sistema agroalimentar localizado.This article is a proposal for a research methodology that attempts to discuss the theoretical framework of multifunctionality of agriculture in order to analyze an Agrifood System based on the principles and methods of Natural Farming. This system is organized around an agro industrial company which integrates local farmers to produce mainly broilers and eggs. The Natural Farming is an agricultural method advocated by Mokichi Okada (Japan, 1882(Japan, -1955, which emphasizes the need of a perfect balance between human activities and nature

Due to an increasing demand for natural products to control coccidiosis in broilers, we investigated the effects of supplementing a combination of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa in drinking water. Three different dosages of this herbal mixture were compared with a negative control (uninfected), a positive control (infected and untreated), chemical coccidiostats (nicarbazin+narazin and, later, salinomycin), vaccination, and a product based on oregano. Differences in performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate), mortality, gross intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion were investigated. Broilers given chemical coccidiostats performed better than all other groups. Broilers given the two highest dosages of the herbal mixture had intermediate lesion scores caused by Eimeria acervulina, which was higher than in broilers given coccidiostats, but less than in broilers given vaccination, oregano and in negative controls. There was a trend for lower mortality (P = 0·08) in the later stage of the growing period (23-43 days) in broilers given the highest dosage of herbal mixture compared with broilers given chemical coccidiostats. In conclusion, the delivery strategy of the herbal extracts is easy to implement at farm level, but further studies on dose levels and modes of action are needed.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the presence of roosters on welfare and egg production of laying hens reared in an alternative system. Two breeding systems were established: barn 1 -laying hens reared without roosters (4500 birds); and barn 2 -laying hens reared with roosters (4500 layers and 250 roosters). In the poultry facilities, microclimate, egg production, mortality rate, and bird behavior were evaluated. Microclimate analysis showed that the birds were subjected to periods of constant heat stress, except for the morning hours. However, even under these conditions, egg production results and mortality rate were consistent with the indices recommended in the Isa Brown management guide in the barn with roosters; the indices obtained were even better and were characterized by higher egg production and lower mortality rates. In addition to productivity benefits, the presence of roosters broadened the behavioral repertoire of the birds due to the introduction of reproductive behaviors. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the tolerance-reflex behavior, which is associated with the impossibility of displaying reproductive behaviors. This alternative egg production system proved to promote animal welfare since it provides and stimulates the display of behaviors considered important for birds.

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